Random Amazing Non-Dancing Dancer Revelation Of The Day

[wigglewhiz]

Remember when I bought those DVD's because I was TOTALLY going to integrate them into dance practise for both technique/stamina regain and exercise? Yeah, I haven't been doing any of that.

And remember when I realised that practise dancing beladi was more gratifying that trying to noodle to random music? I haven't been doing any of that either. In fact, I haven't been doing much of anything the last couple of weeks.

Hey, and know how I was waffling some shit about not using my core properly and what a revelation it was that I might want to, you know, DO THAT?! Well!

I put on some random, mindless Arabic pop this morning (Amr Diab Habibi Walah ala Baloh - CHEESETASTIC WESTERNISED DANCE REMIX AHOY!)
and I pottered about absent-mindedly dancing to it. I suddenly realised that I WAS CHEATING. I was doing allllllll shimmy overlays. Because it was EASIER. Not in the sense of shimmy overlays are EASY, because it takes us all ages to get those. BUT! Doing a figure eight as a shimmy overlay let me cheat and focus on the shimmy. I was NOT working the core properly.

So I switched to ordinary, bog standard eights and camels - and focussed all my energy on making them gooshy and juicy and muscular.

FWOOSH - happy exercisey endorphins! OHAI, U SEEM 2B WORKIN' OUT! LET US REWARD YOU!

O_O

How much of my dance dissatisfaction is because I HAVE BEEN CHEAT NOODLING BELLYLITE rather than OMG DANCE CAREER IS OOOOOOOOVERRRRRRRRR?!

Comments

[mizmarti.livejournal.com]

This is a drive-by due to wonky Internet access, but I want to say YAAAAAAY! This makes so much sense. Isn't it easy for all of us to fall into that? When reach a certain skill level and are good at some decently impressive-looking stuff and can do it easily, it's really natural for that to become what we do all the time.

I *know* the simpler (as in unlayered, unadulterated, not as in easy) stuff is what conveys so much of the emotional impact, it's what I love to watch, it's what's good for my body. But do I work on it? Do I "work it" in performance. No, I do not. I'm feeling very superficial right now, as if I'm spending most of my performance time zooming around -- zooming musically, I hope -- and gesturing and shimmying and flirting. I don't sustaaaain movements and milk them for all they are worth. I am not the dancer I have been and can and should be. I am, at the moment, a bit of a meringue. :)

Thank you for this. Maybe it's a resolution for the new year: fewer shortcuts, more endorphins!

[wigglewhiz.livejournal.com]

Yes!

I will absolutely join you in that resolution! I don't normally make resolutions, but this is one I can definitely get behind! :oD

[kinadancer.livejournal.com]

I'm convinced that this is why i was a better dancer when I was teaching. Being forced to drill things in that beginner specific way really forces your body to work through that movement.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

I posted before I saw this!

[mizmarti.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I want to start teaching again because I loved it, but also (selfishly) because it MADE me do this for my dance.

[mizmarti.livejournal.com]

Let's do it, lady!

Speaking of behinds (mine), that's another motivation. I suspect better practicing will also help the recovery from too many Christmas cookies.

[wigglewhiz.livejournal.com]

Also yes!

I'm too scared to look back there. There were MINCE PIES. I lost count of how many. O_O

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

Trufax! I think this is what I miss about teaching - I had to demonstrate bogstandard circles and figure eights and suchlike for about an hour a week, probably, if you add them up and take out the talking and the dance demonstrating and generalised dance noodling and all that, WHETHER I WANTED TO OR NOT. And even though I am all about the "dance and music are intertwined OMG1" I confess that I really enjoy just drilling simple moves without needing to actually dance properly. Which is probably why my simple moves are quite coretastic and solid.

[replyhazy.livejournal.com]

We should have a Practice Club. Somebody could set an old classic tune of the week, and everybody has to spend at least SOME time on it, and write about what they did with it!

It could be you. You are more powerful than a comet...

[wigglewhiz.livejournal.com]

I am!

I'd definitely be interested in that! *ponders*

[evil-spice.livejournal.com]

Count me in, if someone tells me to do something other than class prep I might actually do something other than class prep.

[kinadancer.livejournal.com]

I'd be interested as well!

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

Me three! Or five or whatever it is!

[bintblue.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'd be up for that!

[mizmarti.livejournal.com]

Yes, please! That is an excellent idea.

I need some outside motivation/inspiration and a little accountability to someone other than myself right now -- a kick-start, if not a kick in the butt. With you folks over here and Lisa Zahiya's practice-every-day challenge over on FB, it's possible that I *might* actually accomplish something.

[beafarhana.livejournal.com]

Me too!!!!